Corrupt Village The Collective LP
Now those who think that Hip-Hop in this country ceases to exist past the end of the Piccadilly Line- you know who you are- will have failed to recognise that Birmingham has been pumping out the good shit for time now. Hot on the heels of widely respected output from Moorish Delta and Mic Stranglers Inc. comes this first offering from Corrupt Village.
Instead of concentrating on one specific artist, this 21 track album works as a showcase for the talents of the CVR roster- Capriciouz, Opocalypse, Disgustin' Justin, Supa Nigga, Lil' Deep, Natalie and Deadline.
Working outside the bullshit and politics of the London scene can really work to your advantage. This is seventy minutes of effortless vibes, free of the self-conscious need to follow current trends, a crew happy to put in some honest work and blaze their own trail. Everyone on the project comes with their own styles. You've got straight spitters like Capriciouz, Justin and Opocalypse who flip a mad selection of flows and accents, complemented by the sweet vocals of Natalie and Lil' Deep. The aptly named 'Sickness' sees Deadline coming with his version of 'One Hope' which includes some sick UK joke business, taking in everyone from Dando to Theakston. If you're into the funny shit, also check for the down-tempo misogyny of 'Nasty Hoes', slackness worthy of J Zone or Geto Boys in their prime. Far from being the summit of this album's achievements, this is just one facet of a multi-layered puzzle.
"Move logical in the gang" is a line from 12 Stone's Kobayashi that sums up the CVR ethic. Unlike a lot of Hip-Hop conglomerates there are no weak links and each artist does their thing individually, while contributing to the quality of the whole set. As a fan of the hip-hop reggae shit, Supa Nigga reps real strong on two solo joints and the hazed-out posse cut 'Cool Ya Self', featuring a mid-track beats that once again shows that you can have some fun with this while still keeping it proper. The straight ragga rawness of 'Bus it if ya Wanna' is big and heavy with a 'Whoa'-like beat of seismic proportions providing the perfect boom-bap backdrop to the bad lyrical flex.
One of the most impressive things about the set is the way it's been pieced together. From the packaging to the track list, it's a product that's pleasing to both the eye and ear. Unlike a lot of hit-and-miss compilations this hits the spot consistently for the duration of the set. All the tracks stand up individually but the album has been pitched so that there's no need to hit fast forward, and that's a big thing at a time when you're lucky to get 3 or 4 top notch joints for your hard earned paper.
Sandwiched between the Montana-style intro/outro are 19 tracks that take you on a journey through the Brum estates without ever resorting to clichés. The diversity of the set can be heard on the track 'Upside Down'. Placed amongst the previously mentioned 'Cool ya Self' and 'Nasty Hoes', Capriciouz flips it over and stabs it smooth style over a bouncy string-led track, while Lil' Deep shows all these r'n'b bitches how a sung chorus can hit hard without sounding watered-down or commercial.
With an ONC (Opocalypse and Capriciouz) album in the pipeline for early next year, this debut works as the perfect taster for the Corrupt Village entourage. It manages to cover a lot of styles without sounding contrived and although you can hear influences from both sides of the pond, they're definitely coming with their own sound. All the beats are big and crisp but the bass-lines mean you can happily rock this on a nice rig or in your ride; you could even play it to the other half and get no complaints- it's that versatile.
If this is the first you've heard of CVR then check the links below to get a sample of what they're all about. I'm not even gonna say this is an excellent alternative to the London scene; it's just well produced Hip-Hop that deserves an audience. It's just that simple.
- Eddie Venom
Related Links:
© ukhh.com 1999 - 2002
